The Quick Guide to Reading in Color

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A Celebration of Zetta Elliott Giveaway! And Valentine's Day!

So February 16, 2010 is a great day. Why? You might be wondering, to which I will impatiently reply "You should know by now, where have you been!" Haha just kidding! Feb. 16 is the release day of A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott.

AWAM and I have a special relationship. Not only do I think I may be Genna's twin (although so does my sister and since we are nothing alike, one of us must be wrong. I'm definitely right in this case) but it was the first book I received to review and the first self-published book I ever reviewed.

I was so green to the world of book blogging that I didn't know that some bloggers don't accept self-published books, but I'm glad I didn't know that because I would have missed out on the wonderful beautiful novel that is A Wish After Midnight. This book is the main reason as to why I accept self-published books. Because they may be as good as AWAM (the bar is pretty high) or excellent in their own way, you never know. Especially because authors of color don't get published as much, I really want to support as honestly as I can, all authors of color who self-publish books that I enjoy reading. And to show that I have excellent taste in books, Zetta's book is being re-published by Amazon Encore (hence the new cover. The first cover is the original, self-published one).

Here's my review (I suggest you read the other reviews listed below as well since they are more coherent)

Still not satisfied? (Awfully hard to please, aren't you!) Here are more review links

Full disclosure: At the time I wrote my review, I had been blogging for a month. I "knew" Zetta a bit, we visited some of the same blogs and she was always very encouraging of me and Reading in Color from the very beginning. So I thought she was really sweet, but AWAM proves that she is a sweet person and a gifted writer. I have gotten to know her way more since the review and we are good friends now (she's definitely one of my mentors), but when I wrote my review of AWAM we weren't at the point of being good friends (and I had a tiny fear that I wouldn't like the book and things could become awkward, but these were unnecessary fears to have, hurray!) So if any of that makes me biased in your opinion, tough. Then read the book and argue with me about it (I'm so serious).

In honor of Zetta's release day and my wanting to share the awesomeness that is A Wish After Midnight, I've decided to host a giveaway! It also ties into Valentine's Day (you have to read my review for further elaboration) because there is a love triangle in A Wish After Midnight. Team Paul vs. Team Judah both vying for the love of Genna. I am wholeheartedly on Team Paul! However, I fear that since the sequel is being written from the side of Judah, I may be more inclined to be on his side.... (haha I'm so fickle).

To enter: You can either

A) Read my review (actually you better read my review regardless!) and tell me based on it and other reviews whose team you would be on. Paul or Judah

OR

B) Leave a comment with your favorite POC literary couple. If you have for some sad reason (To clarify: I'm using the word sad to say that not having discovered a great POC literary couple is sad, not that you are a sad or pathetic person) not read a single book about a POC romance, then just leave me a comment answering "If you could have dinner with two POC literary characters who would it be and why?"

For both comments I would prefer if the books/couples you mention are YA/MG, but they don't have to be.

You must leave your email to be entered!

BTW I may upload a form (I'm too tired to do it now). IF I do upload the form and you've already commented, I will fill out the form for you. But I doubt I will get one. Next giveaway (and this is not my 200 followers celebration, I'm still waiting for something before I have that one, but thank you to my 237 followers, you guys are my Valentines!)

Extra Entries: I'm keeping it simple (What do you like about my giveaways? Dislike? Feedback is appreciated)

+2 Long time follower

+1 New follower

+3 Whatever else you feel like doing (commenting on reviews, Tweeting, linking, etc.) I don't really care. Just leave me a comment telling me what you did. 3 extra entries for every thing you do.

And if you add up your entries I will love you forever!

Ends: Feb. 16 11:59 PM CT

I hope everyone has a happy Valentine's day! Also stop by Zetta's blog, Fledgling to wish her congratulations on her re-release!

22 comments:

lawl, not entering because I have my own copy of AWAM and am going to get the new copy of AWAM sent to me because Zetta is the MOST AWESOME AUTHOR EVAR. BUT I want to participate in comments!!!

TEAM JUDAH TEAM JUDAH TEAM JUDAH ♥ ♥

Man, I can only pick ONE POC couple?! Okay, um, since it's too obvious that I'll name Judah/Genna (lawl), I'll pick another couple: There was this ridiculously fluffy and oh-so-predictable romance between from Lensey Namioka's Mismatch: Sue/Andy!!!! I don't care if people judge me for reading the book, I have no regrets. 8D

I haven't read the book yet, but I "know" Zetta from reading her blog as well as her comments on other bloggers' platform. The first thing that touched me was her kindness and enthusiasm. *Call me sappy but I can't help it, lol*

I already have AWAM, so don't count this as an entry. Just wanted to say I found out about the book and Zetta here, and am so glad I did! Zetta is a marvelously talented writer and AWAM is a beautiful book. And I love the new cover!

Ari,I'm just chiming in with some support for your giveaway AND for Dr. Zetta!! So, here's what I'm going to do: If you get 100 people to enter the giveaway, I'll don't another book, so that there can be two winners AND if you get over 200 people, I'll donate a second book so that there can be be three winners. OK?!

Not YA but, Celie and Shug from The Color Purple are among my favorite couples anywhere. Oh the tears that I cry when I read that book. This books sounds great and I'd love to be entered! :) bastet57 (at) gmail (dot) com

I hardly read YA/MG books, and quite sadly enough, after thinking through the books I've read, it seems every POC book I read hardly has a romantic couple in it! (Like you said, it's sad. I need to remedy this..)

BUT, I'd definitely love to join this giveaway. It looks like a good book to start correcting my lack of POC literary couples... And from the looks of it, I'm thinking I might be with Ah Yuan on this one, Team Judah. Though I'll have to wait till I actually read the book first. =)

Based on your review, I would have to be Team Judah. Sorry! But I always ship the protag with the boy who is alive/in her time period. Maybe because I have no imagination. But there's unrequited love and then there's mostly impossible love. Granted I don't know what happens at the end of the book, but based on the details you gave...Team Judah.

Also, I am a new follower! So that qualifies me for two full entries. Whoo.

The only reason I'm not answering the first question is because I want to be surprised, but my favorite POC couple... hmm. Evelyn and Susan are right, Jerimiah and Elisha are a favorite from If you come softly. Or Marcelo and Jasmine from Marcelo in the Real World... even though they're not an official couple. Their flirtation was wonderful.

+2 long time follower (as in I started following you before this contest?)

After reading your review, it sounds like I should be Team Paul. What girl doesn't like a chivalrous guy? But, I can't make a true assessment until I read it. It was a great review and thanks to all your gushing over A Wish After Midnight, I can't wait to get a copy for me and for my son to enjoy in the future.

Like others above me, I also like the sound of Paul. I especially like the fact that he's from the nineteenth century and thus has old-fashioned manners. The fact that he lives in a different period sounds intriguing.

Join Us!

Tell the Publishing Industry that you're sick and tired of whitewashed covers and few diversity in books

Reading in Color Wishlist

See also my GoodReads to-read list, since I own almost none of the books on there. If you own any of these books and want to trade for them (or just give them away! hee hee) then please contact me! This list is in no particular order.

My Review Policy

I'm happy to review books that are sent to me when I can. Contact me if you want me to review your book willbprez (at) aol (dot) com

I prefer to review YA books about people of color. Occasionally, I will review a book with a white main character, but odds are, that I will decline.

However, I do NOT review blog novels or e-books. Sorry!

Furthermore, I will ALWAYS review books honestly so if you only want a positive review, that's not me. I blog with integrity.

Reading in Color Ratings & Explanations

5/5=<3 A.Must.Read. Preferably buy it, but if you can't or don't want to, go to the library! The book was amazing. 'Nuff said

4/5=Excellent. Great read. Strongly recommended to read.

3/5=Liked it. Good characters, plot, etc. Read it if you want to be entertained and aren't very nitpicky.

2/5=Decent. Hit or Miss. If you see it, read it, but don't go out of your way to look for it. Don't read if you only like really, really good books.

1/5=One or two ok things about this book. Disappointing. Hopefully the next one by the author will be better! I hope I never have to give a book this review :(

"IQ" stands for Incredible Quote. It's one of my favorite lines from the book. I pick one that really stands out, whether it's funny, inspirational or deep.

"Off-Color" a review of a book that does not have a poc in it. These will be rare and far in between. Uusally they will have a poc as a secondary character or be authored by a poc even if the mc isn't a poc.